Different pigments often occur together and affect photosynthetic characteristics of the respective leaf portions. In this study, photosynthetic activity in variegated leaves of five cultivars of the ornamental and medicinal plant, Coleus × hybridus hort., was estimated by image analysis and point data measurements of major chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters and related to the amount of photosynthetic pigments measured with a Chl meter or spectrophotometrically in leaf extracts. Significant differences in Chl and carotenoid (Car) contents were noticed among differentially pigmented sectors of a leaf and among the cultivars. Although the higher Chl concentration was noticed in purple parts compared to green parts of the leaves, the values of minimal and maximal fluorescence yield at the dark-and light-adapted state (F0, F m , F 0 ', F m ', respectively) were a little lower than those in the green sectors, indicating photoprotective effects provided by anthocyanins and Car, more abundant in the red parts. The lowest Chl and Car content was detected in creamy-yellow and pink sectors and this contributed to low F 0 , F m , and F m ', maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, and nonphotochemical and photochemical quenching but high PSII maximum efficiency and effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry. Both methods of Chl fluorescence analysis revealed heterogeneity in capture, transfer, and dissipation of excitation energy but Chl fluorescence imaging was more suitable in examining very narrow pigmented leaf areas.

Efficiency of a photosynthetic apparatus in plants growing in cadmium-spiked soil as well as plant biomass and cadmium accumulation were assessed in two cabbage cultivars (early and late) in a long-term pot experiment. Cadmium concentrations were 10 and 40 mg(Cd) per kg of dry mass of soil. The early cultivar showed a dose-dependent and stable decrease in SPAD index, while in plants of the late cultivar the response was reversible and less pronounced. A huge drop in the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, photochemical quenching, nonphotochemical quenching, and electron transport rate in the third week of vegetation indicated susceptibility of the early cultivar to cadmium, contrary to the late one. Fresh mass of plants of the early cultivar was diminished by both doses of Cd. For the late cultivar, there was no change in these parameters, indicating its possible usability for phytoremediation, provided the reclaimed area is fenced and protected. Particular attention should also be paid towards late cultivars cabbage farming in areas with a high Cd content. On the other hand, the early cultivar may serve as a bioindicator of Cd-contamination. transport rate; F0 -minimal fluorescence yield at the dark-adapted state; FM -fresh mass; Fv/Fm -maximal quantum yield of PSII photochemistry; NPQ -Stern-Volmer nonphotochemical quenching coefficient; qP -photochemical quenching coefficient; SD -standard deviation; ФPSII -effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry. Acknowledgements: The study was supported by European Union from European Regional Development Fund in a framework of the Innovative Economy Operational Programme 2007-2013, project ʻThe exploitation of white cabbage for phytoremediation and biofumigation of soils (AGROBIOKAP)ʼ, and DS 3163 research programme of University of Agriculture in Krakow.

Abstract. The chlorophyll fluorescence imaging technique is a valuable tool to study the impact of heavy metal stress in plants. The aim of this paper was to investigate the influence of Cd on photosynthetic apparatus of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea subsp. capitata f. alba) plants. Two cabbage cultivars 'Ditmarska Najwcześniejsza' ('DN'; early) and 'Amager Polana' ('AP'; late) were used. Cd was applied before planting seedlings (10 mg Cd kg -1 DM of soil).. Measurements were performed at the 3rd leaf after 2 weeks of planting.The level of Cd-induced stress to plants was estimated by chlorophyll (Chl) content (photometrically) and analyses of images and numeric values of the major fluorescence parameters of Chl (Chl fluorescence imaging system FluorCam). Cd negatively affected the chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm, Fv'/Fm', ɸ PSII and qP in leaves of early cultivar of white cabbage. However, in the case of late cv. we did not observe such distinct changes. It suggests that late cultivars. are more resistant to Cd than the early ones. Considering methodological aspect of the study, Chl fluorescence imaging can better reveal some alterations within the leaf, because numeric values of specific parameters, which are the averaged data collected from the whole leaf, cannot reflect the tissue specificity.Abbreviations: HM -heavy metal, Cd -cadmium, Chl -chlorophyll, Fv/Fm -photochemical efficiency of PSII in the dark-adapted state, F'v'/F'm' -PSII maximum efficiency, ɸ PSII -quantum efficiency of PSII electron transport, NPQ -nonphotochemical quenching of maximal Chl fluorescence, qP -photochemical quenching coefficient.

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The article is devoted to fables of Edward Uspienski, who is popular not only in Russia, but also abroad. The author tries to answer the question what lays behind the popularity of literary works, which won the hearts of children and adults. Fable’s themes, composition qualities and figures of speech are taken into consideration in the article. Uspienski’s fables can be helpful in learning the Russian language.